Labiaplasty is a surgery to alter your labia. Wondering why one may want to change the appearance of their labia? Read on to know who and why one may want to get this surgery.
The labia are the folds of the skin around the vaginal opening. The outer lips of the vaginal are called the labia majora and the inner lips are known as labia minora. The size of the labia minora can affect the size of the labia major and thus the appearance of the entire labia.
The labia minora – inner lips can be asymmetrical, prominent, long dangling, or clearly visible. Similarly, the labia majora – the outer lips can be curved, prominent, long and dangling, small and closed, or even small and open. The labia come in all shapes and sizes and can look very different from woman to woman. There is no one perfect look or size when it comes to the labia.
Labiaplasty is a cosmetic surgery that helps change the size of the labia. It can help increase or decrease the size of the labia in a few sittings. It is also a step in the gender affirmation process where surgically the penis is reconstructed into a vagina with labia.
Some of the common reasons for an oversized labia that may require a labiaplasty are:
● Sudden overgrowth after puberty
● Thinning of labia majora due to menopause
● Pregnancy and childbirth
● Genetic reasons
● Excess weight gain.
If you want to reduce the size of your labia, you can choose from two procedure options –
As the name suggests, the surgeon will trim the excess tissue from the labia. They will remove the excess tissue from the outer edge of your labia minora, to make it even with the labia majora or sit just inside the labia majora. They may trim just one side or both sides, depending on the thickness.
In this procedure, your surgeon will remove a wedge-shaped piece of your labia minora tissue – from one or both sides. They will not alter the submucosa. So, after suturing, the wrinkled edge of the labia will remain, making it look more natural.
If the wedge procedure is for your labia majora, then the surgeon will remove a wedge-shaped piece from the insides of the labia majora or labium.
Different surgeons will have different expertise and approaches to perform these procedures. Each labia is different and the surgeon will decide their surgical approach depending on the size of your labia, how much you want to reduce, how your labia skin is, and what you want as the end result.
Some women may want to increase the size of their labia either for comfort, appearance, or sexual well-being. For enlarging the labia majora, the surgeon will take some fat from another part of the body. They will use a liposuction procedure, mostly around the abdomen or thigs, to remove some fat, and inject it into the labia majora. Alternatively, if liposuction is not a feasible option, they can choose to inject hyaluronic acid into the labia majora.
As mentioned above, for size reduction, the surgeon cuts away the excess tissue, and for size enlargement, they inject fat or hyaluronic acid into the labia.
Labiaplasty is a step in the gender reconstruction surgery. The surgeon will take tissue from the penis to create the labia. The sutures are made using dissolvable stitches that will dissolve on their own.
A Labiaplasty is a simple outpatient procedure. You can go to the surgeon on the day of the surgery, and leave the facility in about 3 hours’ time. However, in case of a gender-affirming surgery, it will take more time and will require the patient to be admitted to the hospital.
A Labiaplasty is a surgery for women who want to change the size of their labia or for people who wish to change their gender.
For some women, the excess skin folds in the labia minora can get twisted or pinched and cause a lot of pain or discomfort during physical and sexual activities. The excess skin can also make it difficult to keep the area clean and hygienic. A labiaplasty will help remove the excess skin reduce the size of the labia and make it more comfortable.
Some women may want to reduce or enlarge the size of their labia for cosmetic reasons. In these cases, there may not be a medical reason or a problem as such. It is purely for personal preferences.
Since Labiaplasty is an outpatient procedure, the healthcare team will check you thoroughly soon after the surgery and discharge you. They will check for excess bleeding, ensure the sutures are in place, and give you instructions to care for the surgical site. Ensure you make a note of all the dos and don’ts and follow them carefully to get the best results.
Anyone above the age of 18 can get a Labiaplasty. Since the labia continues to develop and grow even after puberty until early adulthood, it is not recommended for girls below the age of 18. After the age of 50, the skin’s collagen will reduce and start shrinking, so this is not a suitable age for Labiaplasty either.
Women’s labia changes during pregnancy and childbirth. So for a woman who wants to get the surgery but has plans to birth children, it is advisable to wait until she is done with her pregnancy and childbirth. This can reduce repeated surgeries in case her labia changes with pregnancy or childbirth.
Just like any other surgery, a Labiaplasty carries certain risks like –
● Over-resection leads to smaller than desired labia
● Vaginal dryness
● Scar near the vaginal opening
● Pain during intercourse
● Excess bleeding, hematoma, or infection soon after the procedure.
A Labiaplasty is a simple cosmetic procedure that does not require much preparation or healing afterwards. Anyone can get a Labiaplasty after discussing it in detail with their surgeon. If you are unhappy with your labia, find a good reputed surgeon and decide on the best procedure for your needs.
Women who are not happy with the size of their labia – be it comfort or appearance, can get a labiaplasty surgery to change the size. People who want to change their gender can also get a labiaplasty to change their penis into a labia and vagina.
Women who are not comfortable or happy with the size of their labia or people who want a gender-affirming surgery can get a labiaplasty.
3. Who is a candidate for labiaplasty?
Anyone over the age of 18 is an eligible candidate for labiaplasty. Since some may want to increase or decrease the size of their labia, there is no minimum requirement in terms of labia size.
Labiaplasty is a cosmetic procedure, so a cosmetic surgeon will perform this procedure. A gynaecologist may or may not be present during this surgery. It depends on the hospital and their protocols.
